Cambodia has no political prisoners, but politicians with criminal records: PM

Cambodia has no political prisoners, but politicians with criminal records: PM – Xinhua, November 23, 2012
…”They want me to intervene, but they allege that I control judicial system, so if I intervene to release prisoners, it means that I influence the judicial system,” he said.
“The judicial system is independent, I cannot intervene,” the premier said. “You committed criminal acts, you must be jailed.”
Besides Mam Sonando’s case, Cambodian court sentenced self- exiled Sam Rainsy, leader of the country’s main opposition party, to 11 years in jail in absentia for two counts — publishing a false map of the border with Vietnam and accusing Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of being a member of the Democratic Kampuchea, or known as Khmer Rouge regime.
In addition, the court has jailed a handful of people involved in land protests or illegal land possession…